Vietnam has a socialist-oriented market economy. This means the government still plays a major role in the economy, but businesses and market competition are also important. Since the economic reforms called “Đổi Mới” began in 1986, Vietnam has shifted from a strictly centrally planned economy toward a more market-based system.

Recent estimates place Vietnam’s GNP at around $475–500 billion USD in recent years.

The ratio of value between the Vietnamese dong and the US dollar is around 26,000 VND to 1 USD.

Vietnam's top resources are as follows:

• Coal
• Oil and Natural Gas
• Rice
• Fish and Seafood
• Bauxite
• Timber